Drawer suspension



May 3o, 1944. H. HANES '2,350,228

DRAWER SUSPENSION Filed March 8. 1941 Patented May 30, 1944 DRAWER SUSPENSION Harvey Hanes, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buialo, N. Y.

Application March 8, 1941, Serial No. 382,436

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a drawer suspension.

The present invention provides improvements in drawer suspensions that are adapted to increase the wearing life of the drawer suspension to a substantial extent in comparison with drawer suspension constructions now in use and well known in the art, and at the same time provide a drawer suspension that may be manufactured at a reduced cost.

The invention comprehends the position of a spacer member that may be formed from a material diierent than the metal used in forming the tracks for the suspension, the material being of a type that when it contacts the surface of the tracks of the drawer suspension it will have a wearing cooperation to produce less wear in the spacer member than is customary when one track engages another.

The invention further provides a combination stop and spacer member for cooperation in arresting motion of one of the track members at one limit of relative movement thereof, and at the same time has a portion projecting into engagement with an adjacent track for spacing said track and absorbing the wear between said tracks in the operation of said drawer suspension.

The invention also provides for mounting a drawer stop in interlocked relation on one of the track members by having the spaced member interengaged with said stop and track for holding said spacer member and stop member in assembled relation on said drawer suspension wherein said spacer member engages an adjacent track for retaining it in spaced relation thereto and for absorbing and reducing Wear.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a portion of a le cabinet or casing in perspective, illustrating the drawer suspension at one side of the cabinet with portions broken away and shown in section to show how the spacer members separate all the tracks in spaced relation laterally and absorb and reduce wear during operation of the suspension in supporting the drawer during movement into and out or` the casing.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View showing fragmentary portions of the intermediate and drawer tracks partially in cross section to illustrate how the stops operate at the outer limit of movement.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective showing a fragment of an intermediate track illustrating a modied form of construction for supporting a combined stop and Vwear reducing spacer member. l

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail showing the rear endof a drawer track in assembled relation with an intermediate track and a bearing roller mounted on the drawer track for bearing engagement on the intermediate track in which the stud lsupporting saidroller is formed to support av spacer vmember for engaging said intermediate track to retain it in spaced relation laterally relative thereto and for absorbing and reducing wear.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross section of the drawer and intermediate tracks from the showing in Fig. 2 for more clearly showing how a spacer member is mounted on one of the tracks.v

A file casing is illustrated generally at l having a front frame member 2 for reinforcing the open front end of said cabinet in a well known manner.

The drawer suspension disclosed herein includes two sets of tracks, one being mounted at each side of the cabinet and drawer. Each set ofv tracks is formed in an opposite manner. A description of one set oi these tracks will be suiiicient to fully describe this drawer suspension for the purpose of disclosing the present invention.

The drawer suspension includes a casing track 3 mounted on the inside of said cabinet along the side wall thereof, a track 3 being provided on each side of said casing and formed in an opposite manner to the casing track on the other side. A' drawer track 4 is provided for mounting on the side wall of the drawer 5 shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, while an intermediate carrying means is indicated at Shaving an intermediate track I arranged between the drawer track 4 and casing track 3.

Casing track 3 is formed from a sheet metal strip to provide a longitudinally extending. side section 8. having a lower track section 9 extending laterally from the lower edge thereof. In-

termediate track 'I is constructed in a similar manner to provide a side section Il) and a lower track section extending laterally from the lower edge thereof as indicatedat Il. Bearing members I3 of U shape in cross section are formed from sheet metal and hardened to give them a substantially long life in. supporting bearing roller lllk for travel back and forth on the upper edges of the spaced parallel supporting flanges I thereof. These bearing members are mounted on the lower track sections 9 and I I respectively, of the casing and intermediate tracks 3 and I respectively, adjacent to front end in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

The drawer suspension construction as above described is fully disclosed in the copending application filed on March 8, 1941, by Wolters and Andersen, Serial No. 382,428: Patent No. 2,331,529, Oct. 12, 1943.

The present invention provides an improvement in this drawer suspension by having the` supporting flanges I5 of bearing member I3 formed with transversely aligned apertures I6 at the rear end for receiving a spacer member I'I in the manner illustrated in Figs.` 1 to 3 inelusive.

Spacer member Il is preferably formed of fiber of a suitable type having the quality of being substantially tough and wear-resistant and the further quality of producing less friction incontact with the surface of sheet metal that is produced by the contact of sheet metal with sheet metal. Spacer member I'I has a length suincient to extend through the aligned apertures vI6 in supporting flanges I5 and to engage the inside face of the side sections 8 and I0 respectively, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The inner end of each spacer member I'I projects beyond the inner face of bearing member I3 a suicient distance to engage the adjacent faces of intermediate track I or drawer track 4, as shown in Fig. 2, for holding said tracks in spaced relation relative to each other and casing track 3. This 'prevents contact between these tracks and eliminates the friction and wear which metal rubbing would produce.

This wear in the drawer suspension heretofore in use has been found to interfere with the eilicient operation of the drawer suspension and also to shorten the life of the drawer suspension to a substantial extent. Tests have shown that fibre spacer members Il constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and arranged at the front vend portion of the cabinet in the manner illustrated,'are suiiicient to substantially reduce the wear on the drawer tracks through having the insert member absorb the wear. These tests have also shown that the operating life of the drawer suspension is lengthened considerably' more than its useful life would be without these spacer members. In face, these insert members provide a drawer suspension` with more than twice the normal life that has been heretofore obtained.

The invention further provides for the mounting of a stop member I8 in the rear end of bearing member I3 carried by intermediate track 1. This stop member is in the form of a block of rubber or other similar material preferably T-A shaped in horizontal cross section. The stem portion of this block engages between the spaced supporting flanges I 5 and has an aperture registering with apertures I6. spacer member I'I in apertures I6 will also extendl through the aperture in stop I8 and assemble the stop on the bearing member.

This stop on intermediate track 'I operates to Vcooperate with a portion of drawer track 4 for arresting the forward movement of the drawer track relative to intermediate track I at its forward limit of movement when the drawer suspension is operated to extend outwardly through the open front of the cabinet for supporting a drawerin the open position. It is to be under-4 The mounting of axial recess for receiving a spacer member 33 .the positions illustrated in the drawing and as above described operate efliciently to maintain the tracks in spaced relation throughout their length to prevent rubbing and wear.

A modied form of construction is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein a portion of a track is illustrated that may be either an intermediate track or a casing track having side section I9 formed with a laterally extending lower track section 20 supporting a bearing member 2I on the front end portion thereof in the same manner as in lthe construction described above. Side section I9 of the track is formed to provide a lateral extension 22 in spaced relation beyond the rear end of bearing member 2 I. Projection 22 is slotted at 23 through the upper edge.

A combined stop and spacer member 24 has a head 25 forming the stop and a block 28 forming the spacer member connected by a web 21. This combined stop and spacer member 24 engages on projection 22 in a manner that will be clear from the illustration in Fig. 4 in which the connecting section 2`I extends through slot 23 and head 25 engages the rear face of projection 22, while spacer block 26 engages in the slot formed between the end of bearing member 2I and the forward face of projection 22. This member 24 may be slipped into position on projection 22 in which position it will be retained by its frictional engagement with projection 22 and between projection 22 and the rear end of bearing member 2|. One end of block 26 will project inwardly beyond the inner face of bearing member 2| and the end of projection 22, a distance sucient to contact with the adjacent face of an adjacent track for retaining said track in spaced relation to the track shown. The member 24 may be formed of suitable material to produce a satisfactory wear reducing block 25 as well as a suitable type of bumper for stop 25. Should it be found desirable to use two diierent materials, these may be suitably molded or othervise connected together in producing member 2 Another, modification illustrating the application of the invention to a drawer suspension is shown in Fig. 5 having a track 30 forming the Arear end portion of the drawer track shown in Fig. 1 for example. Track 30 carries a roller supporting a bearing roller 32. This may be a ball bearing type of roller or any other suitable type that it may be desired to use in a drawer suspension. The stud is indicated as having an similar in all respects tov spacer member II for engaging the adjacent face of an intermediate track 34 for holding said track 34 in spaced relation to track 38 and absorbing the wear in the movement of said tracks relative to each other. Where bearing rollers of this character are mounted both at the front and rear ends of. the

track, either the casing track, the intermediate `track or the drawer track, the studs for supporta3-sacas:

ing-"these rollers 'may be provided with spacer members in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 5, orf-in any other suitable or convenient manner. These-spacer members mayv be provided with heads having an outer dimension larger than the portion! received' in either the bearing member or bearing studs in themanner disclosed in Fig. 5. 'Ihis type of construction may also be used for the spacer member `I'l.

'- The invention claimed is: i

l'. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer forA` movement into and out of its casing, com-V prising a' track on-y the casing, a track on the drawer, intermediate carrying means, bearings supportingy said drawer track for free movement on` sai'd intermediate carrying means and said intermediate carrying means for free movement on said casing track, said casing track compris-- ing: a sheet metal` strip formed to provide a side section and a laterally extending track section troni-the lower 'edge-thereof, a pair of spaced parallel suppoiting-iianges extending upwardly from said track section at thefront end portion thereof., and a spacerfmember extending transversely acrossone end of saidsupporting iangesY and having one end-engaged with the inner face or said side section forrretention on said casing trackwitlr a portionprojecting inwardly for engaging and retaining said `intermediate carrying meansin spaced relationiateraliy relative to said casing track andA for reducing wear on said drawer suspension when engaged by said intermediate carrying means.

2; A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer for movement into and out of its casing, a track on the casing, Va track on the drawer, intermediate carrying means, bearings supporting said drawer track for free movement on said intermediate carrying means and said intermediate carrying means for free movement on said casing track, said intermediate carrying meanshaving an intermediate track formed to provide aside section. and a lower track section extending laterally. therefrom, abearing member mounted on the frontend portion of said intermediate track onthe upper surface oi said track section adjacent to saidside section, said bearing member having a pair of spaced parallel supporting flanges extending upwardly from said track section,.a` cushioning andrstop member mounted at the rear end orsaidoearing member with a portion., extending betweenl said's'upporting flanges, saidtilanges and-stop having registering openings extending transversely therethrough, and a spacer member extending through said openings for engagement with the inner face of said side section at one end and having the opposite end projecting inwardly for engaging and retaining said drawer track in laterally spaced relation relative to said intermediate carrying means and intermediate track and for reducing wear between said drawer track and said intermediate carrying means.

3. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer for movement into and out of its casing, comprising a track on the casing, a track on the drawer, intermediate carrying means, said intermediate carrying means having an intermediate track formed from sheet material provided with a side section having a laterally extending lower track section on the lower edge thereof, a bearing member mounted on said track section and having a pair of spaced parallel upwardly extending supporting flanges, said side section having a projection formed therein in spaced relationt beyondv the rear end'of said bearing meme ber andfextending laterally and inwardly over saidilower tracksection and having a slot formed therein opening-'through the upper edge, and a combined stop and spacer member having portionsarranged to engage in thevslot in said projection and overl-ie opposite faces of said projection irl-'interlocking cooperation therewith, said spacer member having one end engaging the endfof said bea-ring memberfor cooperation to retain said'y combined stop and spacermember between the endsof said bearing member and saidfpro'jection, and said spacer member having a` portion thereof extending laterally and inwardly beyond saidintermediate track for engag-ing! and retaining said drawer track in laterally spaced relation relative 'to' said intermediatecarrying means for absorbing andv reducing wear inv said drawer suspension.-

4e A'vdrawer suspension for'mounting a drawer for' movement into and out of its casing, comprisingf a track on the casing, atrack on the drawer, intermediate carrying means, said intei-mediate carrying means having an interrne`- diate track member cooperating with ythe drawer and casing track, one of saidtrack members having-` a stud mounted thereonrotatably mounting'a bearingv roller for rolling engagement with another of said tracks, said stud being formed with a recess, and a spacer member mounted in the recess in.I said stud and `having a portion projecting inwardly in spaced relation relative to'sai'd `studA and said track for engaging one oi the other tracks' for retaining said other track in later-allyspaced relation and `for absorbing andy reducing wear when engaged by said other track. 5.u In a-drawery suspension supporting a drawer for movement into vand out of a compartment in ai casing, wherein a track is mounted` on each sidewall of the casing in said compartment ex tending from front toirear thereof, a track is provided' on each side of the drawer, an intermediate track isv provided at each side of said drawer supported by said casing tracks to form a supporti for said drawer tracks, bearing rollers at' thev iront ends onsaid casing tracks support said! intermediate tracks, bearing rollers at the front ends of said intermediate tracks support said drawer tracks, said bearing rollers trans'- mittingf the weight of said drawer from said drawer tracks to said intermediate tracks andv to said casingv tracks, said' drawer and intermediate tracks having a construction that provides for limited sidewise movement of each track relative to the other and said casing track until the sides of said tracks engage one another, and stop means limits the relative movement of said drawertracks and intermediate tracks to each other and said casing tracks, the combination therewith of a spacer member mounted on the front end of each casing track in transversely extending relation adjacent the support of said tracks by said bearing rollers with one end extending inwardly beyond the inner sides of the casing tracks to engage the sides of the intermediate tracks at the front end of said casing and retain the sides thereof in spaced relation.

6. In a drawer suspension supporting a drawer for movement into and out of a compartment in a casing, wherein a track is mounted on each side wall of the casing in said compartment extending from front to rear thereof, a track is provided on each side of the drawer, an intermediate track is provided at each side of said drawer supported by said casing tracks to form a support for said drawer tracks, bearing rollers at the front ends onsaid casing tracks support said intermediate tracks, bearing rollers at the front ends of said intermediate tracks support said drawer tracks, said bearing rollers transmitting the weight of said drawer from said drawer tracks to said intermediate tracks and to said casing tracks, said drawer and intermediate tracks having a construction that provides for limited sidewise movementv of each track relative to the other and said casing track until the sides of said tracks engage one another, and stop means limits the relative movement of said drawer tracks and intermediate tracks to each other and said casing tracks, the combination therewith of a liber spacer member mounted on the front end of each casing track in transversely extending relation with one end extending inwardly beyond the inner sides of the casing tracks to engage the outer sides of the intermediate tracks at the front end of said casing, and retain the sides of said tracks in spaced relation.

7. In a drawer suspension supporting a drawer for movement into and out of a compartment in a casing, wherein a track is mounted on each side wall of the casing in said compartment extending from front to rear thereof, a track is provided on each side of the drawer, an intermediate track is provided at each side of said drawer supported by said casing tracks to form a support for said drawer tracks, bearing rollers at the front ends on said casing tracks support said intermediate tracks, bearing rollers at the front ends of said intermediate tracks support said drawer tracks, said bearing rollers transmitting the weight of said drawer from said drawer tracks to said intermediate tracks and to said casing tracks, said drawer and intermediate tracks having a construction that provides for limited sidewise movement of each track relative to the other and said casing track until the sides of said tracks engage one another, and stop means limits the relative movement of sald drawer tracks and intermediate tracks to each other and said casing tracks, the combination therewith of a ber spacer member mounted on the front end of each casing track in transversely extending relation with one end extending inwardly beyond the inner sides of the casing tracks to engage the outer sides of the intermediate tracks at the front end of said casing, and retain the sides of said tracks in spaced relation, and a ber spacer member mounted on the front end of each intermediate track adjacent the bearing roller thereon and having one end extending inwardly beyond the inner side wall of. said intermediate tracks to engage and maintainthe side walls of said drawer tracks in spaced relation to the sides of said intermediate tracks.

8. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer for movement into and out of its casing, comprising a track on the casing, drawer carrying means,lbe arings supporting said drawer carrying means for free movement on said casing track, said casing track comprising a sheet metal strip formed to provide a side section and a laterally extending track section from the lower edge thereof, a pair of spaced parallel supporting flanges extending upwardly from said track section at the iront Yend portion thereof, and a spacer member extending transversely across one end of said supporting flanges and having one end engaged with the inner face of said side section for retention on said casing track with a portion projecting inwardly for engaging and retaining said drawer carrying means in spaced relation laterally relative to said casing track and for reducing rwear on said drawer carrying means when engaged with said spacer member.

9. In a drawer suspension supporting a drawer for movement into and out of a compartment in a casing, wherein a track is mounted on each side wall of the casing in said compartment extending from front to rear thereof, another track is provided at each side of said drawer supported by said casing tracks to form a support for said drawer, bearing rollers at the front ends of said casing tracks support said other tracks, said bearing rollers transmitting the weight of said drawer from said other tracks to said casing tracks, said tracks having a construction that provides for limited sidewise movement of said other tracks relative to said casing tracks until the sides of said tracks engage one another, and stop means limits the relative movement of said other tracks to said casing tracks, the combination therewith of a fibre spacer member mounted on the front end of each casing track in transversely extending relation with one end extending inwardly beyond the inner sides of the casing tracks to engage the outer sides of the other tracks at the front end of said casing and retain the sides of said tracks in said spaced relation. 

